Cotton elevator



2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. W. SEIPERT. GOTTON ELEVATOR, CLEANER, AND EEEEEE. No. 60 4,426.

Patented May 24,1898.

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2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

(No Model.) I

J. W. SEIEERT. COTTON ELEVATOR, CLEANER, AND FEEDER. No. 604,426. Patented May 24, 1898.

H I 71 5 I witmezaeo ?6 I NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN W. SEIFERT, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

COTTON ELEVATOR, CLEANER,"AND FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N 0. 604,426, dated May 24, 1898.

Application filed December 4, 1897. Serial No. 660,775. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. SEIEERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas, State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton Elevators, Cleaners, and Feeders, of which the following is aspecification, reference being bad therein to the accompanyin drawings.

This invention relates to cotton elevators, cleaners, and feeders, and more particularly to such a structure of apparatus which will effect the cleaning of the cotton as the same is positively fed toward the gin.

The invention has for its object to simplify the construction of cotton elevators and cleaners and to effect the cleaning operation by the feed-rollers, which insure a positive feed to the gin. 7

It has for a further object to construct the feeding-rollers of reticulated material,so that they will perform both the feeding and cleaning functions, and to further construct the parts so that the area of the rollers may be varied to increase or decrease the surface which will act upon thecotton.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of two of the cleaners located in connection with cotton-gins. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-section through one of the cleaners with parts broken away. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 with parts in section, and Fig. 4 is an end view of the cleaner.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The letter A designates any suitable form of casing, within which are oppositely located two reticulated cylinders or rollers B, having journals B bearing in opposite ends of the casing. The coverings of these rollers may be of any suitable material-for instance, a woven-wire netting or perforated metaland the rollers may be driven by any suitable mechanism. For illustration, each roller may be provided with gear-teeth B meshing with each other, so that the rollers are caused to rotate in opposite directions and toward each other. The gears 13 are driven by a suitable gear-wheel B located upon a shaft B extending longitudinally of the casing, a portion of the gear B extending through a suitable aperture in the casing, so as to mesh with one of the gears B which are located within the casing. One end of the'shaftB may be provided with a suitable gear B driven by connection with a chain 13 extending to a gear B located upon the driving-shaft of the feedrollers within the gin. Upon this same shaft another gear B is located and by means of the connection B is positively driven from the power-shaft B which actuates the saws within the gin.

The driving mechanism hasbeen described as operating in connection with feed-rollers of the gin; but it has been found in practice that these rollers may be omitted,as the cleanin g rollers or cylinders will positively feed the cotton to the gin. The feeder and gin at the left of Fig. 1 are not provided with the ginfeeding rollers, while the gin at the right is so provided.

The casing A is provided with the usual conducting-pipe A at the upper portion, which opens into the body portion A above the cleaning-cylinders, and at one end is provided with a suitable telescopic connection A and the opposite end of the pipe may be closed by any suitable cap A upon the removal of which additional cleaners can be added to those previously in use. The casing is provided with suitable doors A upon opposite sides, which permit access to the cleaningcylinders and beneath the cylinders,with windows or doors A to permit the removal of dust which may drop from the cylinders into the space provided below the same. The opposite ends of the casing are provided with inwardly-extending portions A,within which each of the gears 13 of the cleaner-cylinders are located. These portions prevent contact of the cotton with thedriving-gears and the escape of dust and dirt at the journaling apertures within the casing. l

The cotton is elevated from the-wagon or other receptacle containing the same by a pneumatic suction or draft effected by means of a fan 0, driven by any suitable power, which fan is connected with the ends of the cylinders bya connecting-pipe O. This pipe C fits overa suitable collar or extension .0 which is illustrated as oval in shape and-communicatin g with the interior of the oppositelylocated cleaning-cylinders, while the space between the ends of the cylinders is closed by a partition G which prevents any draft therethrough. \Vhen two or more cleaners are used in connection with a single fan, the same may be connected by a suitable pipesection 0 and the end of the last cleaner closed by means of a cap 0 It will be seen that the suction of the air will be exerted upon the cotton through the reticulated cylinders at the portion thereof in contact with the cotton.

Above the reticulated cylinders I provide adjustable dampers D, which are pivoted at their upper ends, as at D, and at their lower ends provided with a flexible flap D lying in contact with the reticulated cylinders; It will be obvious that these dampers may be j adjusted toward and from each other to vary the surface of the cylinders which will be presented to the cotton, and consequently vary the draft of air acting upon the same.

Beneath the cylinders-I provide suitable flapvalves E, pivoted at their upper ends E,

which will close in contact with each other and prevent upward draft from the gin when I no cotton is being fed between the cylinders.

carried by the draft and discharged through V the fan .0.

It will be understood that the apparatus is located above and in connection with a .cotton-gin G of any suitable construction and that the lint from the .gin is conducted to a condensing apparatus by means of the pipe or duct G". The cleaners are capable of use, however, without connection to a ginning apparatus.

From the foregoing description the operation of the device will be clearly understood and in brief is as follows: The cotton as it'is received from the field is drawn up the conducting-pipe A through the conductor A and by the air is drawn into contact with the reticulated cylinders. The cleaning capacity of these cylinders is regulated by the dampers D, and the dirt and dust will be removed from the cotton and drawn into the cylinders. The rotation of the cylinders carries the cotton between the same and positively feeds it into the gin located beneath. In the event that the ginning apparatus is stopped the cotton at once collects upon the surface of the cylinders, and as the same is not fed forward the draft of air is stopped by the col- The 1 dampers D may beadjusted by any wellknown means-for instance, by racks D pivoted at one end to the dampers and at the .opposite .end engaging a portion of the casing.

lected cotton, so that all clogging of the device is prevented, and as soon as the cylinders again revolve the collected cotton will be fed from the surface downward and the feeding action through the pipe at once commenced. The cleaning and feeding function is a continuous one, and the cotton and seed are constantly fed to the gin without the necessity of delays or the operation of the valves to effect the feeding of the cleaned cotton.

I have illustrated and described the details of construction of the several parts of this invention; but it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the construction of i the parts witho ut departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention and setforth its merits, .what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cotton cleaner and feeder, the combination witha casing, of reticulated cylinders geared to rotate toward each other, an air-exhaust communicating with the interior of said .cylinders, and adjustable dampers for regulating the air-exhausting area of said cylinders; substantially as specified.

2. In a cotton cleaner and feeder, the combination with a casing, of reticulated cylinders geared to rotate toward each .other, an air-exhaust communicating with the interior of said cylinders, and adjustable dampers provided with flexible flaps in contact with said cylinders; substantially as specified.

3. In a cotton cleaner and feeder,-the combination with a casing, of reticulated cylinders geared to rotate toward each other, an air-exhaust communicating with the interior of said cylinders, adjustable dampers for regulating the airrexhausting area of said cylinders, and flap-valves located beneath said cylinders; substantially as specified.

4. In a cotton cleaner and feeder, the combination with reticulated cylinders geared to rotate toward each other, of a casing surrounding said cylinders and provided with apertures above and below the cylinders, closures for said apertures, adjustable dampers above said cylinders and an air-exhaust connection communicating with the interior of said cylinders; substantially as specified.

5. In a cotton cleaner and feeder, the combination with a casing, of oppositely-located reticulated cylinders provided with meshing gears, an air-exhaust communicating with the interior of said cylinders, a driving-gear meshing with the gear upon one cylinder, adjustable dampers above said cylinders, and flapvalves below said cylinders; substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. SEIFERT. 

